Smear correction method, and solid-state image pickup apparatus and image pickup device which use same

Abstract

A multiple-stage vertical CCD, a vertical transfer section for alternately transferring the first signal containing a smear signal and image signal and the second signal containing only a smear signal to each register of vertical registers, a horizontal section for alternately outputting the first signal and the second signal from a horizontal register, and a signal subtractor for subtracting the second signal from the first signal are included. A smear correction method of gaining an image signal without smear signal by subtracting the second signal from the first signal is provided.

1 .- 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A solid-state imaging device employing a multiple-stage vertical CCD, the solid-state imaging device comprising:
 a saturated pixels determinator for determining the number of saturated pixels;   a mode switch for switching between a smear correction mode and a high dynamic range mode based on a determination result of the saturated pixels determinator, the smear correction mode being activated when the number of saturated pixels in the multiple-stage vertical CCD is less than a predetermined threshold, the high dynamic range mode being activated when the number of saturated pixels is not less than the predetermined threshold;   a vertical transfer section for transferring a first signal of an image signal, which includes a smear signal and is converted to a charge in a light-receiving element of the multiple-stage vertical CCD, and a second signal of only the smear signal alternately to each register of vertical registers in the smear correction mode;   a horizontal transfer section for alternately transferring the first signal and the second signal through a same transfer channel; and   a subtractor for subtracting the second signal from the first signal,   wherein   when the mode switch activates the smear correction mode,   the horizontal transfer section alternately transfers the first signal of the image signal including the smear signal and the second signal of only the smear signal through the same transfer channel, and   a smear correction function is executed, the smear correction function being a function to gain an image signal without smear signal by subtracting the second signal from the first signal.   
     
     
         10 . The solid-state imaging device of  claim 9 ,
 wherein the multiple-stage vertical CCD is a double-stage vertical CCD.   
     
     
         11 . The solid-state imaging device of  claim 9 ,
 wherein the multiple-stage vertical CCD is a triple-stage vertical CCD.   
     
     
         12 . An imaging apparatus comprising:
 the solid-state imaging device of  claim 9 .   
     
     
         13 . A smear correction method for a solid-state imaging device employing a multiple-stage vertical CCD, the method comprising:
 determining the number of saturated pixels in the multiple-stage vertical CCD; and   switching between a smear correction mode and a high dynamic range mode based on a result of the step of determining the number of saturated pixels, the smear correction mode being activated when the number of saturated pixels is less than a predetermined threshold, and the high dynamic range mode being activated when the number of saturated pixels is not less than the predetermined threshold,   wherein   when the smear correction mode is activated,   the smear correction mode is executed to gain an image signal without smear signal by subtracting the second signal from the first signal, the smear correction mode executing the steps of:   vertically transferring a first signal of an image signal, which includes a smear signal and is converted to a charge in a light-receiving element in the multiple-stage vertical CCD, and a second signal of only a smear signal, alternately to each register of vertical registers;   horizontally transferring the first signal and the second signal alternately through a same transfer channel; and   subtracting the second signal from the first signal.   
     
     
         14 . An imaging apparatus comprising:
 the smear correction method for a solid-state imaging device of  claim 13 ,   wherein the multiple-stage vertical CCD is a double-stage vertical CCD.   
     
     
         15 . An imaging apparatus comprising:
 the smear correction method for a solid-state imaging device of  claim 13 ,   wherein the multiple-stage vertical CCD is a triple-stage vertical CCD.   
     
     
         16 . An imaging apparatus comprising:
 the smear correction method for a solid-state imaging device of  claim 13 .   
     
     
         17 .- 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . An imaging apparatus comprising:
 the solid-state imaging device of  claim 10 .   
     
     
         20 . An imaging apparatus comprising:
 the solid-state imaging device of  claim 11 .   
     
     
         21 . An imaging apparatus comprising:
 the smear correction method for a solid-state imaging device of  claim 14 .   
     
     
         22 . An imaging apparatus comprising:
 the smear correction method for a solid-state imaging device of  claim 15 .